Tis the season

Last weekend my friend Dave visited from London. We went golfing, had brunch, enjoyed the view at Butte Chaumont and generally had a full but relaxing weekend... and the clocks changed...Somehow this kicked off the holiday season for me. Waking up when it's already light, and finishing work just as the night sky is setting in. It's changed my mood entirely...

We have about 2 months left in Paris, this week were going to London to get my passport stamped, the following weekend we have up to 3 thanksgiving celebrations planned, then we'll spend the next weekend in Lyon for our nieces birthday, that leaves a few free weekends in December before Christmas where we're going to celebrate in Lyon and then spend 3 days snowboarding... It will go fast, but I hope time slows just enough to take it all in. I'm excited for the next chapter, back to NYC but I am anxious not to hurry things along. I love this season, playing Christmas music during the day with the girls, making christmas sweets and planning a thanksgiving menu, the coziness of fall, leaves floating and even that scent in the air at Bois de Boulogne. I half hate myself for enjoying the commercial aspects of Christmas shopping, but something about picking out the perfect gift for loved ones sucks me in every year... We have next to no money, and the money we do have we have tightly clenched in our fists in case everything falls apart when we get to NYC but we've got a secret santa 20 euro budget for his family.

Something about NYC and the states right now seems very fragile... there is a bug bed epidemic in NYC- I survived one in London and New York already, but I'd rather not fight that battle again. The political situation in New York is angry and vitriolic, and it's a battle that seems like it's really just getting started. The job crisis is still entrenched and no matter how capable either of us are, if the opportunities aren't there... well...

There is still so much to enjoy about being in Paris, and we will not move back to Paris even if we do end up back in France or Europe. Dinner parties in French, Bichon au citron, Sylvain's family, and of course, the calm before the storm...